William Johnson, the chief executive of Heinz, has struck 57 varieties of gold. The ketchup boss could walk away with a $212m payoff after selling the company to a consortium led by famed investor Warren Buffett.

The takeover triggers clauses in Johnson's contract that entitle him to $16m in pay, $30.4m in accelerated stock and options, plus nearly $1m in perks and $8.5m in other compensation, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. Johnson is also set to receive $57m in accrued compensation and has nearly $100m in vested stock, stock options and restricted shares.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway group teamed up with South American investors 3G Capital last month to make a $28bn offer for Heinz. The deal has yet to be approved by Heinz's shareholders, and the company has as yet made no statement on whether Johnson, 64, will leave.

Johnson became Heinz's CEO in 2000 and has had a 30-year career at the Pittsburgh-based food company. "The payments reflect Mr Johnson's success in creating billions of dollars in shareholder value over his successful 15-year tenure as president and CEO," said company spokesman Michael Mullen.

"This success includes delivering total shareholder returns of 177% since 2006, and the 19% premium to Heinz's all-time high share price that all Heinz shareholders will receive in the merger. This compensation consists of equity that Mr Johnson accumulated over his 30-year career with Heinz and existing equity awards and contractual rights that were in place well before the announcement of the proposed merger."

If Johnson should leave, his payout will be among the largest golden goodbyes ever, but will still pale compared to the record $1.6bn that William McGuire, the former UnitedHealth Group boss, received in 2006.

The SEC filing also gave more details of the Heinz bid. Jorge Paulo Lemann, the partner and co-Founder of 3G Capital, met Buffett in early December. Lemann, a Brazilian billionaire, suggested a joint bid for Heinz, and on 13 December their bankers at Lazard Frères arranged a dinner for Johnson and Lemann.

The two met Buffett in his hometown of Omaha on February 11, and Buffett committed to maintaining Heinz's "presence and heritage" in Pennsylvania. An announcement was made on February 14.

After the announcement, Buffett told CNBC he hoped Johnson would stay on as CEO. In a conference call, Johnson said he was "way too young" to retire.